Adjustable hinge for suitcases or the like



Oct. 18,1927. 1,646,286

F. C. GADSBY ADJUSTABLE HINGE FOR SUITQASES 6R THE LIKE "Filed Jan; 13; 1925 Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

i! UNITED" ST ATES;

Parent OFFl-CE;

' i I .rB E nnRloK onegrL'snnssg oasfgnnny, New so rrI iwnLEs, AUSTRALIA.

i A JUS ABLE Halves ron surrcnsns on LIKE.)

Application fiiea January is, 1925,.fSeria'1 No. amma a in Australia. September 22,1924.

This invention relates to improvemenitsin adjustable'hinges-iior suitcases,b ags, or the like having an adjustable locking side, and has been devised with the view to providing a construction which can be quickly adjusted to give an added capacityto the suitcase or the like, and which when so adjusted, will be retained in such position danger of being displaced.

According to the invention, in the case of a suit or attache case, I make the top or cover section of the case deeper than the ordinary top. To the outside of the bottom section of the case at the rear side of same I secure two plates, of slightly channelled section, so as to allow hinge plates to slide thereunder. In these channelled plates I provide a vertical slot or opening, and in one side of this slot I form recesses or smaller lateral slots. Between each of these lateral recesses holes or detents may be formed, into which a raised stop or projection on the hinged plate may enter.

One leaf of each hinge proper is secured to one of the hinge plates, the other leaf of the hinge proper being riveted or otherwise secured to the top or cover section of the case. Each of the hinged plates is so formed that it may be moved laterally in orderthat one of its edges may enter one of the lateral slots or recesses of one of the channeled plates and the detent carried thereby may enter one of the holes of the channeled plate to hold the hinge plate in this position, or it may be held by the depending side of the cover when closed down.

Adjustment of the hinges is obtained by moving the top or cover section of the case laterally when it is in the open position, so that the hinge plates are moved out of the recesses in which they have rested. The hinge plates may then bemoved vertically, either upwardly ordownwardly, to obtain the desired adjustment of the top and lower sections of the suitcase. When this position is obtained, the cover is moved laterally in the reverse direction and the hinge plates are retained in the channelled plates.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of a suitcase having the hinge of the invention applied thereto, and

Figure 2, is an elevation of one of the hinges, while without 22 is a carrying handle.

Figures 4 and 5 are part perspective vie illustrating the hinge in the unlocked and locked positions respectively.

The same reference numerals indicate like I parts throughout the drawings.

20 is the lower or body portion of a suitcase, and 21 is the upper or cover portion. 23 are the hinge cover plates, of slightly channelled section in which the hinge plates 24 are adapted to slide. These cover plates 24 are each provided with a vertical slot or opening from which lateral recesses 25 extend. 26 are holes or depressions formed in the plates 23 29 on one side and has a raised stop or debetween the lateral recesses 25 to hold the hinge plate, when required. Each hinge. plate 24 is provided with an extension piece tent 30 on the other side which isadapted to enter the hole or depression 26 adjacent to the lateral recess 25 into which the hinge plate enters. Each hinge plate 24 is hinged at 27 to a plate 28 which is secured to the lid or cover portion 21 of the case.

The hinges are adjusted by raising the lid or cover portion 21 of the case, and moving same laterally, as shown in Figure-4. This movement releases the stop or detent 30 from the hole or depression 26 in which it has rested and allows the hinge plate, after moving out of the recess 25, to be raised or lowered in the vertical slot or opening 19 to whatever position is desired. The lid or cover portion 21 is then moved in the reverse direction, which forces the hinge plates into the desired recesses 25, when the lid or cover may be lowered to close the case.

To adjust the hinges, the lid or cover 21 is moved, when raised, to the position shown in Figure 4. This movement clears the hinge plate 24 and projection 30 from the recess 25 and the hole or depression 26, respectively,

and allows the hinge plates 24 to be moved in the vertical slot or opening 19 to the desired position. The lid or cover 21 is then moved in the reverse position and the hinge plates are secured in adjusted position as illustrated in Figure 5. The lid or cover 21 may then be lowered.

I claim:

A hinge for an extensible suitcase or the like, said hinge comprising a plate for attachment to the body of a suitcase and having a portion between its edges bent out of the plane of its edge portions to form a slideway, said portion having a longitudinal opening and also having a plurality of notches extending laterally from one edge of said opening, a Substantially fiat member having a main part of less Width than said slideway and of greater width than said opening and shifta-ble'in saidslideway, said member also having a part bent at substantially a right angle to its main part and extending through said slot and then bent substantially paral e1 shorten said hinge and a so. being shiftable laterally to eause its right-angular part to enter one of said slots for securing said member in adjusted position. a a

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 20 my hand; i

FREDERICK CECIL GADSBY. 

